Monday, July 16, 2012

Business in UK must future-proof against extreme weather

edie.net (UK): Companies must consider the risks and opportunities provided by more 'freak' weather patterns, according to business leaders. The UK has been subjected to droughts and floods already this year, but while the economic impact is not yet known a new report suggests ill-prepared businesses will struggle to survive.

According to the Adaptation Sub-Committee (ASC) of the Committee on Climate Change, four times as many businesses and households could be at risk of flooding in the next 20 years. The risks have been exacerbated through an increase in development in the flood plain and a reduction in private and public spending on flood defences.

Lord John Krebs, ASC chair, said adaptation to climate change, including floods and droughts, needed to be taken more seriously. He encouraged more investment in flood defences, faster roll-out of water meters and urged "serious consideration to where and how we build our housing and infrastructure", adding: "Without action by households and businesses to prepare for these inevitable weather extremes the country faces rising costs, unnecessary damage and future disruption."

The Environment Agency estimates that funding on adaptation needs to increase by £20 million on top of inflation to keep pace with climate change. Responding to the ASC report, the Agency's chair Lord Smith said the weather extremes this year have brought the importance of resilience into sharp focus. ..

June 2009 – At the studios of Cleanskies TV, I was interviewed about the costs of climate change, and discussed adaptation efforts underway in the US and around the world.

May 2009 – I helped draft the scenarios for Rising Waters, a multistakeholder scenarios effort focused on climate change adaptation in the Hudson Valley. The final report is now completed and available here.

May 2008 – I reviewed two books on climate and energy in the New Leader magazine: James Gustave Speth's The Bridge at the Edge of the World: Capitalism, the Environment and Crossing from Crisis to Sustainability, plus Robert Bryce's Gusher of Lies: The Dangerous Delusions of Energy Independence.

January 2008 – A very local paper covers a very global issue.... The Litchfield County Times in northwestern Connectictut ran an article in January 2008 about Carbon-Based.

Now available: Climate Change Adaptation in 2011

A selection of my writings from 2011, plus some of my posts, as well as links... all focusing on the risks of climate change